Photos: Anti-austerity strikes sweep southern Europe

Fernando Hernandez, AP11.14.2012

Riot police apprehend a protester during a general strike in Valencia, Spain, Nov. 14.

Fernando Hernandez
/ AP

Municipal workers clash with riot police during a demonstration against the presence of German Deputy Labor Minister Hans-Joachim Fuchtel in Thessaloniki on Nov. 15. Protesters reportedly attempted to break into the conference centre that would host a meeting between Greek and German mayors.SAKIS MITROLIDIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Municipal workers clash with riot police during a demonstration against the presence of German Deputy Labor Minister Hans-Joachim Fuchtel in Thessaloniki on Nov. 15.SAKIS MITROLIDIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Municipal workers clash with riot police during a demonstration against the presence of German Deputy Labor Minister Hans-Joachim Fuchtel in Thessaloniki on Nov. 15.SAKIS MITROLIDIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Municipal workers clash with riot police during a demonstration against the presence of German Deputy Labor Minister Hans-Joachim Fuchtel in Thessaloniki on Nov. 15. The protesters chanted “Nazis out” and “This will not pass” as they tried to obstruct municipal officials from attending the conference.SAKIS MITROLIDIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Protesters chant slogans during a union protest in Thessaloniki, Greece, Nov. 14. Workers across the European Union sought to present a united front against rampant unemployment and government spending cuts Wednesday with a string of strikes and demonstrations across the region.Nikolas Giakoumidis
/ AP

Municipal workers clash with riot police during a demonstration against the presence of German Deputy Labor Minister Hans-Joachim Fuchtel in Thessaloniki on Nov. 15. Riot police chased protesters through the conference centre complex from building to building.SAKIS MITROLIDIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Municipal workers clash with riot police during a demonstration against the presence of German Deputy Labor Minister Hans-Joachim Fuchtel in Thessaloniki on Nov. 15.SAKIS MITROLIDIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

A protester holds a Greek flag marked “not for sale” during a demonstration against the presence of German Deputy Labor Minister Hans-Joachim Fuchtel in Thessaloniki on Nov. 15. The protest came after Fuchtel, who is also German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s special envoy to Greece, told journalists in the northern port city that it takes 3,000 Greek municipal workers to do the work of 1,000 of their German counterparts.SAKIS MITROLIDIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Riot police arrest a protester during a general strike in Madrid, Spain, Nov. 14. Spain’s main trade unions stage a general strike, coinciding with similar work stoppages in Portugal and Greece, to protest against government-imposed austerity measures and labour reforms. The strike is the second in Spain this year.Andres Kudacki
/ AP

A riot police officer aims his weapon against demonstrators, unseen, during clashes following a protest during a general strike in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 14. Spain’s main trade unions stage a general strike, coinciding with similar work stoppages in Portugal and Greece, to protest against government-imposed austerity measures and labour reforms. The strike is the second in Spain this year.Emilio Morenatti
/ AP

A man walks at an underground pedestrian crossing, in Athens, on Nov. 15. Greece’s economy has shrunk by 20 per cent since its crisis began in 2009 and unemployment has risen to a record 25 per cent. The country is expected to enter a sixth year of recession as investors pull money out of the country and the government keeps cutting spending and raising taxes to comply with the demands of its international bailout.Petros Giannakouris
/ AP

Protesters, unseen, throw fireworks to the police riots during a general strike in Madrid, Spain, Nov. 14. Spain’s main trade unions stage a general strike, coinciding with similar work stoppages in Portugal and Greece, to protest against government-imposed austerity measures and labour reforms. The strike is the second in Spain this year.Andres Kudacki
/ AP

Municipal workers clash with riot police during a demonstration against the presence of German Deputy Labor Minister Hans-Joachim Fuchtel in Thessaloniki on Nov. 15.SAKIS MITROLIDIS
/ AFP/Getty Images

Protesters shout slogans toward a shop that had remained open, as a worker looks from inside during a general strike in Madrid, Spain, Nov. 14 Spain’s main trade unions stage a general strike, coinciding with similar work stoppages in Portugal and Greece, to protest against government-imposed austerity measures and labour reforms. The strike is the second in Spain this year.Andres Kudacki
/ AP

A protester with a banner marches during an anti-austerity protest on Nov. 14 in Athens, Greece. Unions in Spain, Portugal and Greece went on strike in what has become the first broad-based anti-austerity action to protest government plans amid a wide economic scope across Europe.Milos Bicanski
/ Getty Images

Worker holds placards reading “We are all Greek, enough austerity,” during a demonstration against austerity, in Marseille, southern France, Nov. 14. With rampant unemployment spreading misery in southern Europe and companies shutting factories across the continent, workers around the European Union sought to unite in a string of strikes and demonstrations on Wednesday, with strikes and protests planned in Italy, Greece, Portugal, France and Belgium.Claude Paris
/ AP

Protesters demonstrate holding flags of Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain during a general strike in Lisbon on Nov. 14. General strikes in Spain and Portugal will spearhead the day of action called by European unions and joined by activists as anger over governments’ tight-fisted policies boils over.MIGUEL RIOPA
/ AFP/Getty Images

Protesters stand with a Greek flag outside the Greek parliament during an anti-austerity protest on Nov. 14 in Athens, Greece. Unions in Spain, Portugal and Greece went on strike in what has become the first broad-based anti-austerity action to protest government plans amid a wide economic scope across Europe.Milos Bicanski
/ Getty Images

A protester with a mask marches during an anti-austerity protest on Nov. 14 in Athens, Greece. Unions in Spain, Portugal and Greece went on strike in what has become the first broad-based anti-austerity action to protest against government plans amid a wide economic scope across Europe.Milos Bicanski
/ Getty Images

A demonstrator kicks the glass at the main entrance of “Palau de la Musica” during clashes following a demonstration during a general strike in Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 14.Manu Fernandez
/ AP

A riot policeman grabs a protester during a demonstration at Cibeles Square on November 14, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. A coordinated general strike by unions in Spain and Portugal has paralysed public transport in the two countries with further strikes planned across Europe. The strike against the governments’ austerity measures have force hundreds of flights to be cancelled and factories and ports to come to a standstill.Pablo Blazquez Dominguez
/ GETPICS

A man holds a placard reading “Rajoy go home” during a general strike on November 14, 2012 in Madrid. General strikes in Spain and Portugal will spearhead the day of action called by European unions and joined by activists as anger over governments’ tight-fisted policies boils over.LLUIS GENE
/ GETPICS

Demonstrators fights with riot policemen during a protest on a day of mobilisation against austerity measures by workers in southern Europe on November 14, 2012 in Rome. Riot police and anti-austerity protesters clashed in Italy on Wednesday as anger boiled over on a Europe-wide day of strikes and mass demonstrations.FILIPPO MONTEFORTE
/ GETPICS

People wait for a train at Atocha train station during a general strike on November 14, 2012 in Madrid. General strikes in Spain and Portugal will spearhead the day of action called by European unions and joined by activists as anger over governments’ tight-fisted policies boils over.LLUIS GENE
/ GETPICS

A worker sits inside a bank with it’s windows covered with stickers and graffiti during a general strike in Madrid, Wednesday Nov. 14, 2012. A Spanish Interior Ministry official says 32 people have been arrested and 15 people treated for minor injuries in disturbances as a general strike in Spain against austerity measures and economic reforms began. The General Workers Union said the nationwide stoppage, the second this year, was being heeded by nearly 100 percent of workers Wednesday in the automobile, energy, shipbuilding and constructions industries. Graffiti reads ‘Guilty. Bankers to Jail, The Capitalists should Pay for the Crisis’.Paul White
/ AP

Riot policemen arrest a protester in Valencia on November 14, 2012 during a general strike . General strikes in Spain and Portugal will spearhead the day of action called by European unions and joined by activists as anger over governments’ tight-fisted policies boils over.JOSE JORDAN
/ GETPICS

A demonstrator sprays the word “Vaga,” or strike in Catalan, over a truck that was part of a convoy leaving Mercabarna, the biggest wholesale market in the city, at the beginning of a 24-hour strike on November 14, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. Spain’s trade unions have called for today a general strike, the second of Mariano Rajoy’s presidency. Protestors from social movements are expected to join striking public sector workers to demonstrate against austerity cuts, labour reforms and an unemployment rate of 25 percent.David Ramos
/ GETPICS

A man holds a flare as thousands of people from France and Belgium demonstrate during an anti-austerity protest in Lille on November 14, 2012. Trade unions lead nationwide strikes and anti-austerity protests across Europe today.PHILIPPE HUGUEN
/ GETPICS

A riot policeman swings his baton at protesters during a demonstration at Cibeles Square on November 14, 2012 in Madrid, Spain. A coordinated general strike by unions in Spain and Portugal has paralysed public transport in the two countries with further strikes planned across Europe. The strike against the governments’ austerity measures have force hundreds of flights to be cancelled and factories and ports to come to a standstill.Pablo Blazquez Dominguez
/ GETPICS

A riot policeman arrests a protester during a general strike on November 14, 2012 in Madrid. General strikes in Spain and Portugal will spearhead the day of action called by European unions and joined by activists as anger over governments’ tight-fisted policies boils over.LLUIS GENE
/ GETPICS

Protesters demonstrate in front of riot policemen during a general strike in Madrid on November 14, 2012. General strikes in Spain and Portugal will spearhead the day of action called by European unions and joined by activists as anger over governments’ tight-fisted policies boils over.CESAR MANSO
/ GETPICS

Riot policemen fight with demonstrators during a protest on a day of mobilisation against austerity measures by workers in southern Europe on November 14, 2012 in Rome. Riot police and anti-austerity protesters clashed in Italy on Wednesday as anger boiled over on a Europe-wide day of strikes and mass demonstrations.FILIPPO MONTEFORTE
/ GETPICS

A protester holds a flare during a demonstration in Lisbon on November 14, 2012 during a general strike . General strikes in Spain and Portugal will spearhead the day of action called by European unions and joined by activists as anger over governments’ tight-fisted policies boils over.PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA
/ GETPICS

A woman stands among protesters outside the Greek parliament in Athens during an anti-austrerity protest on November 14, 2012. Workers in southern Europe launched an unprecedented string of strikes and walk-outs against austerity cuts Wednesday, halting some factories and grounding more than 700 flights.LOUISA GOULIAMAKI
/ GETPICS